Colombia has once again exceeded its record for daily deaths due to covid-19: 573 are recorded on June 10

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection reported, this Thursday, June 10, 29,302 new cases of covid-19 in Colombia. In the last 24 hours, 112,556 tests which 53,176 threads PCR and 59,380 of antigens.

The report also notes that, 573 Colombians died of the disease within the last 24 hours. In this way, the country reaches a total of 94,046 deaths since the virus reached the national territory.

By aggregating all the numbers, Colombia reached 3,665,137 infected, of which 150,575 active cases and 3,409,076 correspond to positive cases having already overcome the disease.

Regarding the regions with the most reported cases, Bogota leads with 10,702 infected, followed by Antioquia with 3,475 and in third place Valley with 2,452.

There are 873 conglomerates in the country. The territories are: Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlántico, Barranquilla, Bogotá, Bolívar, Boyacá, Buenaventura, Caldas, Caquetá, Cartagena, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Chocó, Córdoba, Cundinamarca, Guainía, Guaviare, Guajira, La , Meta, Nariño, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindío, Risaralda, San Andrés, Santa Marta, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupés, Vichada.

The latest report from the Ministry of Health also indicates that, until June 9 at midnight, they were already applied in Colombia. a total of 12,206,104 doses of the covid-19 vaccine.

According to the same report, the number of Colombians who are fully vaccinated, that is, those who have already received two doses of the biological drug, There are currently 3,594,039 people.

Likewise, an increase in the vaccination rate was detected, where for the day a total of 228,299 doses were applied, of which 58,938 correspond to the second injection.

There are many international and local studies and data that indicate that there is an increased risk of hospitalization among the cancer population, higher requirements for intensive care units – ICU, than the general population and a higher probability of death than the population without underlying diseases.

Therefore, Nubia Bautista, Deputy Director of Noncommunicable Diseases of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection said that “cancer is significantly associated with serious consequences when affected patients are infected with the coronavirus. Thus, throughout the world, this comorbidity has been included among the priority events in vaccination plans ”.

Cancer is known to decrease the ability of the immune system to respond to viruses and bacteria, which is linked to the disease itself or its treatment. The above, causes increased risk of COVID-19 infection in cancer patients, compared to the general population.

Likewise, the weak immune response can also expose this population to serious complications derived from infection, which could delay treatment and lead to unnecessary hospitalizations that could negatively affect the prognosis of the disease, especially in the context of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic.

The official explained that the evidence for the process of vaccination against various infectious agents in patients diagnosed with cancer and hematological diseases is positive.. Then, the risk-benefit balance in the COVID-19 vaccination process, significantly favors patients diagnosed with cancer.

Cancer and SARS-CoV-2 figures

In the country, patients diagnosed with cancer and COVID-19 infection have so far been 13,662 cases, of which approximately 9% (1,230) died, and 2% were classified as moderate and severe. It is equally important to consider that the population that died from complications associated with the coronavirus is concentrated in people over the age of 57.

The people mentioned below are priority for vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) in Colombia according to resolution 430 of 2021:

– Patients diagnosed with cancer.

– Patients diagnosed with cancer under active treatment.

– Patients with a diagnosis of cancer under follow-up.

– Patient with a cancer diagnosis on the waiting list or a bone marrow transplant (hematopoietic precursor or solid organ transplant).

The following are treatment-related situations in some patients diagnosed with cancer, which may be tailored to the vaccination process:

General recommendations for patients diagnosed with cancer undergoing systemic therapy

– If possible, the first dose of the vaccine should be given to the patient two weeks before the start of systemic cancer treatment.

– It is recommended to maintain systemic or radiotherapeutic cancer treatments for the second dose.

– The application of the first dose of the vaccine against covid-19 should be avoided to coincide with the day on which chemotherapy or targeted cancer therapy is applied, as this may reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine.

– It is advisable that the first dose of the vaccine, in cases where it is possible to choose the date of vaccination, can be applied between two cycles and far from the point where the immune system is most affected due to the treatment of Cancer. Consult your doctor.

General recommendations for patients diagnosed with cancer who undergo radiation therapy

– There is currently no obstacle to the administration of the vaccine against the coronavirus concomitantly with radiotherapy.

– In patients treated simultaneously with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, it is possible to apply the vaccine against the coronavirus as long as the chemotherapy is not carried out on the same day as the vaccination.

Specific recommendations in patients diagnosed with cancer in the context of splenectomy planning or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

– Patients treated with antithymocyte globulin (called ATG), rituximab or obinutuzumab, you must wait between 3 and 6 months for the application of the vaccine.

– Before planning a splenectomy (surgical removal of the spleen), it is recommended to apply the vaccine between 2 and 4 weeks before the operation is performed.

– Taking into account the schedule of transplantation of hematopoietic progenitors, it is recommended to apply the vaccine between 2 and 4 weeks before any intervention related to the transplantation.

– In patients who have received a haematopoietic stem cell transplant, vaccination with vaccines based on live attenuated viruses or replication vectors should be avoided. Consult your doctor.

Recommendations for patients diagnosed with cancer with concomitant bleeding disorders

– It is recommended to carry out the vaccination with small gauge needles between 25 and 27 G.

– It is advisable to apply pressure to the area after the administration of the vaccine for 10 minutes after the application of the vaccine and to watch for the appearance of bruising for 2 to 4 hours.

– Patients receiving warfarin should undergo an “INR” test performed 72 hours before vaccination. If it’s within the therapeutic range, they can be vaccinated. Anticoagulation does not need to be interrupted, and “bypass” regimens are not recommended with low molecular weight heparins.

Bautista stated that this cannot be constituted as a barrier to access to vaccination in these patients. However, studies of COVID-19 vaccination in the population diagnosed with cancer are rare, therefore results in this group of people are not fully predictable.

“Where should it be emphasized, that vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 must be based on an informed and voluntary decision, with knowledge of the risks and benefits of its application. It is just as relevant that, if the patient with a cancer diagnosis has doubts, he consults his doctor before applying the vaccine, ”he said.

Finally, the president of the Colombian Association of Hematology and Oncology, Virginia Abello, urged the population with this disease to get vaccinated against covid-19, because they have a very high risk of complications from the coronavirus, especially when they are under active treatment.

“There is no contraindication for patients with this pathologyIn this way, fatalities and serious images will be avoided, ”concluded Abello.

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